scholarly journals A step-by-step overview of the dynamic process of epitope selection by major histocompatibility complex class II for presentation to helper T cells

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scheherazade Sadegh-Nasseri

T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) expressed on cytotoxic or helper T cells can only see their specific target antigen as short sequences of peptides bound to the groove of proteins of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, and class II respectively. In addition to the many steps, several participating proteins, and multiple cellular compartments involved in the processing of antigens, the MHC structure, with its dynamic and flexible groove, has perfectly evolved as the underlying instrument for epitope selection. In this review, I have taken a step-by-step, and rather historical, view to describe antigen processing and determinant selection, as we understand it today, all based on decades of intense research by hundreds of laboratories.

1996 ◽  
Vol 183 (3) ◽  
pp. 1083-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Wen ◽  
G A Cole ◽  
S Surman ◽  
M A Blackman ◽  
D L Woodland

Recent studies have shown that only a subset of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules are able to present bacterial superantigens to T cells, leading to the suggestion that class-II associated peptides may influence superantigen presentation. Here, we have assessed the potential role of peptides on superantigen presentation by (a) analyzing the ability of superantigens to block peptide-specific T cell responses and (b) analyzing the ability of individual peptides to promote superantigen presentation on I-Ab-expressing T2 cells that have a quantitative defect in antigen processing. A series of peptides is described that specifically promote either toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST) 1 or staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) presentation. Whereas some peptides promoted the presentation of TSST-1 (almost 5,000-fold in the case of one peptide), other peptides promoted the presentation of SEA. These data demonstrate that MHC class II-associated peptides differentially influence the presentation of bacterial superantigens to T cells.


2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (17) ◽  
pp. 8549-8560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan A. Reuter ◽  
Nicole D. Pecora ◽  
Clifford V. Harding ◽  
David H. Canaday ◽  
David McDonald

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a leading killer of HIV-infected individuals worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is responsible for up to 50% of HIV-related deaths. Infection by HIV predisposes individuals to M. tuberculosis infection, and coinfection accelerates the progression of both diseases. In contrast to most other opportunistic infections associated with HIV, an increased risk of M. tuberculosis infection occurs during early-stage HIV disease, long before CD4 T cell counts fall below critical levels. We hypothesized that M. tuberculosis infection contributes to HIV pathogenesis by interfering with dendritic cell (DC)-mediated immune control. DCs carry pathogens like M. tuberculosis and HIV from sites of infection into lymphoid tissues, where they process and present antigenic peptides to CD4 T cells. Paradoxically, DCs can also deliver infectious HIV to T cells without first becoming infected, a process known as trans-infection. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated DCs sequester HIV in pocketlike membrane invaginations that remain open to the cell surface, and individual virions are delivered from the pocket into T cells at the site of contact during trans-infection. Here we report that M. tuberculosis exposure increases HIV trans-infection and induces viral sequestration within surface-accessible compartments identical to those seen in LPS-stimulated DCs. At the same time, M. tuberculosis dramatically decreases the degradative processing and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) presentation of HIV antigens to CD4 T cells. Our data suggest that M. tuberculosis infection promotes a shift in the dynamic balance between antigen processing and intact virion presentation, favoring DC-mediated amplification of HIV infections.


1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1519-1524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bennett ◽  
Timothy Levine ◽  
Joanna S. Ellis ◽  
Robert J. Peanasky ◽  
I. Michael Samloff ◽  
...  

1992 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Blackman ◽  
F E Lund ◽  
S Surman ◽  
R B Corley ◽  
D L Woodland

It has been established that at least some V beta 17+ T cells interact with an endogenous superantigen encoded by the murine retrovirus, Mtv-9. To analyze the role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules in presenting the Mtv-9 encoded superantigen, vSAG-9 to V beta 17+ hybridomas, a panel of nine hybridomas was tested for their ability to respond to A20/2J (H-2d) and LBK (H-2a) cells which had been transfected with the vSAG-9 gene. Whereas some of the hybridomas recognized vSAG-9 exclusively in the context of H-2a, other hybridomas recognized vSAG-9 exclusively in the context of H-2d or in the context of both H-2d and H-2a. These results suggest that: (a) the class II MHC molecule plays a direct role in the recognition of retroviral superantigen by T cells, rather than serving simply as a platform for presentation; and, (b) it is likely that components of the TCR other than V beta are involved in the vSAG-9/TCR/class II interaction.


1996 ◽  
Vol 184 (5) ◽  
pp. 1747-1753 ◽  
Author(s):  
J F Katz ◽  
C Stebbins ◽  
E Appella ◽  
A J Sant

We have studied the consequences of invariant chain (Ii) and DM expression on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II function. Ii has a number of discrete functions in the biology of class II, including competitive blocking of peptide binding in the endoplasmic reticulum and enhancing localization in the endocytic compartments. DM is thought to act primarily in endosomes to promote dissociation of the Ii-derived (CLIP) peptide from the class II antigen-binding pocket and subsequent peptide loading. In this study, we have evaluated the functional role of Ii and DM by examining their impact on surface expression of epitopes recognized by a large panel of alloreactive T cells. We find most epitopes studied are influenced by both Ii and DM. Most strikingly, we find that surface expression of a significant fraction of peptide-class II complexes is extinguished, rather than enhanced, by DM expression within the APC. The epitopes antagonized by DM do not appear to be specific for CLIP. Finally, we found that DM was also able to extinguish recognition of a defined peptide derived from the internally synthesized H-2Ld protein. Thus, rather than primarily serving in the removal of CLIP, DM may have a more generalized function of editing the array of peptides that are presented by class II. This editing can be either positive or negative, suggesting that DM plays a specifying role in the display of peptides presented to CD4 T cells.


1995 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 641-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Maldonado ◽  
R A Eisenberg ◽  
E Roper ◽  
P L Cohen ◽  
B L Kotzin

Mice homozygous for the lpr gene have a defect in fas (CD95), a cell surface receptor that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and that mediates apoptosis. This genetic abnormality results in lymphoproliferation characterized by the accumulation of CD4-CD8- (double negative [DN]) T cells, autoantibody production, and background strain-dependent, end-organ disease. Our previous results suggested that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I may be involved in the development of DN cells. To test this hypothesis, we derived C57BL/6-lpr/lpr (B6/lpr) mice that were deficient for the beta 2-microglobulin gene (beta 2m lpr) and had no detectable class I expression. At 6 mo of age, compared with B6/lpr littermates with normal class I genes, these mice showed greatly reduced lymphadenopathy, mostly due to a dramatic decrease in the number of DN cells. Significant changes in the percentage of other T cell subsets were noted, but only gamma/delta+ T cells showed a marked increase in both percentage and absolute numbers. Analysis of T cell receptor V beta expression of the remaining DN T cells in beta 2m -lpr mice showed a shift to a CD4-like repertoire from a CD8-like repertoire in control B6/lpr mice, indicating that a small MHC class II selected DN population was unmasked in lpr mice lacking class I. We also found that the production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies (antichromatin and anti-single stranded DNA), total IgG and IgG2a, but not total IgM or IgM rheumatoid factor, was significantly reduced in the beta 2m -lpr mice. This work suggests that >90% of DN T cells in lpr mice are derived from the CD8 lineage and are selected on class I. However, a T cell subset selected on class II and T cells expressing gamma/delta are also affected by the lpr defect and become minor components of the aberrant DN population.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document